Orchestra of The Swan
Chamber Orchestra
At a glance
Orchestra of The Swan
Chamber Orchestra
Excellence, innovation and accessibility from Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon. 'Orchestra of the Swan brings the music ear-catchingly alive'GRAMOPHONE
Biography —
ABOUT US
Formed in 1995, Orchestra of the Swan is a British chamber orchestra which, under the artistic direction of David Le Page, is passionate about audience inclusivity and blurring the lines between genres, through its adventurous and accessible programming.
The Swan presents over 45 concerts a year – both live and digital with a catalogue of over 20 recordings. We are passionate about new music and has premiered more than 70 new works by composers including Joe Cutler, Tansy Davies, Joe Duddell, Alexander Goehr, Roxanna Panufnik, Joseph Phibbs, Dobrinka Tabakova, Errollyn Wallen, Huw Watkins, John Woolrich and many others.
NEW MUSIC
Their latest album Labyrinths, released November 2021, reinterprets music by Syd Barrett (Pink Floyd), Britten, Trish Clowes, Joy Division, Brian Eno, Maxwell Davies, Nico Muhly, Piazzolla, Purcell, Max Richter & Yann Tiersen. Their prior album Timelapse, audio streamed 3.5 million times since January 2021, creates a space where sounds of the past and present collide to form a unique musical landscape. Although the pieces were written in some cases, centuries apart and in culturally disparate eras, it is striking how much these contrasting works inhabit such similar emotional territory. Intriguing pairings of works by Rameau and Radiohead’s Pyramid Song, Schubert and The Smiths, Adés and Grieg, Satie and Reich, complement each other beautifully, and style becomes irrelevant.
IN THE COMMUNITY
The Swan has been enormously successful in making a positive and effective contribution to the communities at the heart of its ‘immersive residencies’ in Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Birmingham with an ambitious programme of work in care homes, schools and rural areas growing year by year. In Hereford, Stratford and Southam, our new dementia-friendly café, Café Muse, generously funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund, the Stratford Town Trust and Warwickshire County Council, is now underway; proof that an orchestra really can be an indispensable and relevant part of the community.
News —

Orchestra of The Swan shortlisted for Gramophone Award
Orchestra of The Swan have been shortlisted for a 2022 Gramophone Award in the Spatial Audio category. Read more
DIGITAL CONCERT: LABYRINTHS – Orchestra of The Swan
"The new digital concert from David Le Page and the Orchestra of the Swan features music by Pink Floyd's Syd Barrett, Trish Clowes, Purcell, Mozart, Vaughan Williams, Schubert and Bartók, and is free to stream now" - David Le Page Read more

Orchestra of the Swan announces Michael Collins as Principal Conductor for 2021/22
Michael will direct the orchestra for the 2021/22 season. Read more

With two million streams of new album Timelapse, Orchestra of the Swan presents Timelapse 2.0 digital concert
Orchestra of the Swan have released their latest digital concert Timelapse 2.0. Read more

Ikon & EPAM artists during lockdown
A selection of highlights that Ikon/EPAM artists have been involved in during lockdown Read more
Photos —
Reviews —
"The individuality of the Orchestra of the Swan is beyond doubt”
Classical Explorer Colin Clarke
Excellence, innovation and accessibility from Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon. 'Orchestra of the Swan brings the music ear-catchingly alive'
GRAMOPHONE
The Timelapse concept enables past and present to mix and mingle with joyful abandon and to yield miraculous results
Seen and Heard International
An atmosphere of joyous creativity
Birmingham Post
This jewel of an orchestra
The Guardian
Absolutely top-notch
International Record Review
Selected Discography —
See full discographyRelated Media —
Labyrinths: the making of an album
View on YouTubeTimelapse 2.0
View on YouTubeVivaldi Sleep Project: Music by Susi Evans filmed by Walter Bird
View on YouTubeVivaldi Sleep Project (Inspired by Timelapse album)
View on YouTubePyramid Song (Radiohead) arranged by Le Page from the album Timelapse
View on YouTubeOFFICIAL VIDEO: The Bench - Gnossienne No. 1 (arr. David Le Page)
View on YouTube'La Rotta' Featured on Timelapse 2.0
View on YouTubeTRAILER: Doubles Digital Concert with Craig Ogden and Miloš Milivojević
View on YouTubeTRAILER: Wind, Sand & Stars Night Owl Digital Concert
View on YouTubeTRAILER: Luna: Night Owl Digital Concert
View on YouTubeElectronic Music for ORCHESTRA
View on YouTubeOrchestra of the Swan - Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue
View on YouTubeFull Concert: Rossini, Mole, Gershwin
View on YouTubeDownloads —
Contact —
Name
- Nicola Semple